Check strap for loom picker sticks



Aug. 22, 1950 P. G. RHOADS CHECK STRAP FOR LOOM PI CKER STICKS Filed Feb. 9, 1949 Patented Aug. 22, 1950 2,520,060 CHECK STRAP FOR LooM PICKER STICKS Philip G. Rhoads, Wilmington, Del., assignor to J. E. Rhoads & Sons, Philadelphia, Pa., a partnership Application February '9, 1949, Serial No. 75,429

This invention relates to textile machinery and more particularly to an improved check strap used in association with loom picker sticks.

It is conventional practice in loom construction to actuate the shuttle by means of an oscillating stick called the picker stick, the function of which is to impel the shuttle across the lay or beam at high velocity. It has been found that a loop formed of a leather strap provides suitable means for arresting the oscillations of the picker stick. The requirements of such a strap are that it be inexpensive, easy to install and remove, and that it effectively arrest the motion of the picker stick with a minimum of wear on the picker stick and on the strap. Since the conventional picker stick has straight edges and is pivotally mounted on the loom, it will be understood that opposite edges of the stick in alternate positions of maximum throw are defined by lines which are not vertical but have substantial angularity with respect to each other. In order therefore, to utilize the full width of the check strap in stopping the picker stick and to avoid impact only on the upper edge of the check strap, it has been proposed to out such check straps in an arcuate manner so that when the strap is secured to the lay, a truncated conical section is formed in which the portions of the strap contacted by the picker stick have substantially the same angle to the vertical as the edges of the picker stick, thus providing full bearing surface between the stick and the strap. An example of such a check strap construction is shown in the Shivell Patent No. 1,993,531.

I have found that substantial beneficial results can be achieved by providing a check strap which may be formed from a, straight piece of leather, in which a portion of either or both ends of said strap are provided with a slot that is biased with respect to the center line of the strap. In addition, the edges of the strap adjacent the slot may also be cut on a bias so that the edges are parallel to the center line of the slot.

A primary object of the invention therefore, is to provide a check strap for loom picker sticks having in the flat pattern a central straight pattern characterized by parallel sides, and opposite end portions having edges parallel to each other but at an angle to the central portion so that the desired twist to the strap is quickly provide when the strap is installed on the loom.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check strap for loom picker sticks having in the flat pattern a central straight portion characterized by parallel sides, and opposite end portions 5 Claims. I (Cl. 139-161) having biased parallel edges whereby a truncated cone is formed when the strap is installed on the loom, so that the strap does not interfere with loom structure and the proper twist can be readily ascertained by the loom fixer.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check strap for picker sticks which may be cut from a blank havin parallel sides.

A further object of the invention is to provide a check strap for loom picker sticks that may readily be installed on a conventional loom in such a way that the upper edge of the loop formed when the strap is installed, will be below interfering structure on the loom without the necessity of modifying any part of the loom structure.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a check strap for loom picker sticks having in the fiat pattern a central straight portion characterized by parallel sides and at least one slot at the end of the strap, the center line of the slot being at an angle to the parallel sides of the central portion so that the loom fixer can install the strap in a biased position with a minimum of effort.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a check strap for loom picker sticks which may be cut from a blank having parallel sides and in which maximum bearing surface with the picker stick is provided with a predetermined width at the end of the strap.

Further objects will be apparent from the speci fication and drawings, in which:

Fig. l is a perspective showing the upper portion of a loom picker stick and the associated lay on which my improved check strap is installed;

Fig. 2'is an end elevation of the structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a flat pattern of the improved check strap;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail in elevation showing the picker stick in opposite maximum'positions' of throw; and

Fig. 5 is-a fragmentary sectional detail as seen '1 lug I'Ia to which thecheck strap? is bolted by means of bolt 19, nut 20, washer 2i and angle plate 22. The opposite edge of bracket I6 is provided with a lug 23 which adjustably supports angle bracket 24 by means of bolt 25. Bracket 24 serves to control the shape of the strap l8 when installed in position.

In present day loom practice, it is considered essential to provide a vertical bolt 26 which adjustably supports guiding structure l .and is secured to the lay I 3 by' rieans igf iii1t 2 'l. result of this requirement of adjustability, bolt 26 frequently extends a substantial distance below bracket I6 and to such an egtent that undesirable chafing takes place between the end of the bolt and the strap. I I i I The improved check strap lg '(lf'ig, 3) is 21:6: sirably cut from a piece of leather, and for the loom illustrated is 22" long and 2f' wide at the center portion. The cut blanks 22 i; 2" are then additionally cut at each end for a distance of 3" from the end to provide parallel edges l8a and I SZ solthat theextreiiie end! 80 of the strap is reduced fro h 2" ta 1%", A sl'ot ltd /1" wide and 2:1 long iscut in the ehdshtthe strap so thatt e sides htthes c't l8d are parallel to edges I821 and l 822. The slots in thepreferredfoi in are so cut that the longitudinal 'centerlin of eac slot is not only biasedwith respect to the ee'ntei' line or the strap t the slots are biased 1h up: Dqsite directions so that their .e'e'nt'er lines are not parallel in the natiorm but will be parallel when the strap is installed oil the 106th. Furthe re t is desirable although not essential, thatthe angularity of each slot in the case where two slpts are provided, is the same with respect to the eentralparallel edges. I II I have also found that in mostl'o'oins the vertical length of lug i111 and angle plate 22 are fixed so that the width of the strap at the ends is fixed. However, it becomes desirable to provide t axhhht width for the strap. at the central portion in order that the greatest strength is obtained at the ,pbintwhere the picker stick strikes thestrap. It will be apparent from the above illustrative dimensions that the Width of the strap at the ends can be made somewhat less than thewidth er thestra t the central por-'- tici n', with the result that maximum strap width arid strength is achieved when the end width of the trap is fixefd a at t e same time the fiat pattern for the strap isarectangle. I I I I It will also be understood that the dimensions noted above are by way of example and not by way o f limitation l l ioweyer I have found in practice that these dimension'soperate satisfac torily to fulfill the objects of the invention.

Whenthestrap I B is installed on bracket Ila, the strap 18 is looped so that the ends of the strap overla each other, as shown in Fi g. 5. Edges 181i and I b are then pressed to that they register with the correspondingedges on the opposite end of the strap. This in turn causes the slots [8d, l8d to register with each ether. Belt is ahd plate 22 may then be installed and tightened ecurely in place. when the strap [8 is thus installed it has been found that the -sirape o f t he loop formed by the s rap and assisted angle bracket 24-, ie uch that the eiids at the n of. th loop automatically provide a biasedins ide surface that is parallel to the outer edge l'pa of the 'picker stick whe in its extreme position. This r sult enables full bearing surfaee bet'iveen the edge I01! and the strap '30, thereby greatly lengtheiiing the life of the check strap. I

In addition, my construction enables theu'p per edge ['86 of the check strap to be one. sub

stantially lower plane than the upper edges I81), I81) of the strap (Fig. 2) This feature eliminates chafing and interference between edge We and bolt 26 so that a further increase in the life of the check strap is achieved without the necessity of modifying any structure of the loom.

Fig. 4 shows how the strap l 8 is displaced alternately when contacted by thepicker stick at the end bf itsstroke; 'Ihe rim lines represent the position of the stick and strap when the stick is in its extreme left position and the broken lines show th e cOrr eSp n ding position of the loop and stick when the stick is in the opposite extreme position. II Since it will be apparent from Fig. 4 that the stiet i8 is secured at only one point in the loop (namely bolt IS) the opposite side of the strap which abuts bracket 24 slides back and forth 6h the bracket at a relatively high speed when the stick alternates between the two positions shown in Fig. 4. This is why it is especially important toavoid any contact between bolt 26 and the ether edge 18 of the strap. It has been found that straps haviii'g their upper surface 18a in a substantially flat plane chafe ek'cessively and break loh'g befo'iethey are worn out, merely with Contact with the picker stick. I

While it mighthe possible to reduce chafing by lengthening bracket lwfdi by shortening bolt 26, such red'esighiiig would not be economically practical because the cost of furnishing and installin the modified parts on the thousands of looms in current 'op'erati'on would be far greater than the cost of more frequent renewal of straps, There fore, it must be furthe p jciht'e'd out that my improved strap fulfills the distinct need for reducing strap renewals by prolonging the life of the straps without the necessity of redesigning any part ofthe item. I I

It will be understood that slots [8d, lBd may be previ'ded in either or both ends of the strap and that the biasof edgesl8a', 18b is primarily to serve as a guide in clamping the strap so that the proper twisting bf the strap may be achieved. Obviously it is n'ot'ess'ential that the sides 18a and I8!) b parallel to theeent'er line 'ofsl'ot I8d but it 'is impbita-nt that the center line of at least one slot id is set at an angle to the center line of the strap body so that an ,adjustment of the strap can r'eadily be made without altering its biased positlonwhenclaihped to bracket Ila. I

It will thus be'apparent that I have provided an improv'ed check st rapfo rlo'om picker sticks which is characterized by maximum strength with the minimumainou'nt of material, and which greatly lengthens the lifeof I the strap when installed on eonventio'nal looms by eliminating chafing. In addition 'thelo'om fixer is enabled to install the strap with the desired bia's'iha minimum of time.

i-Iavin'g thus described my invention,

1. check strap for l'ooin picker sticks com;- prising a single length 'of l'e'athe'llike material having a straight p'ortig ih v'v ith Substantially parallel edges, and at east one sl'otjiear the end of sa idleh gth, the-ehtei ine or the slot heme substantialiy biasedwlth respect to the center line 'o f the straight portion. I I

check strap for loon'i picker sticks coni prising'a unitary single length of le atherlike ma"- terial haying "a fcentifalfsti'aight porti'on'wi th s'ub stantiall-y parallel edges, apojrtion at each end of the strap h aving edges pa allel with each other anabiased with'r'e spect tothe edges of the central straight 'p ortiQh, hat. lot in 'a'chf'of said .end portions, 'tl'le cnter lines of "each slot also 5 being biased to the edges of the straight central portion.

3. A check strap for loom picker sticks comprising a unitary single length of leatherlike material having a straight portion with substantially parallel edges, at least one end portion having edges biased with respect to the edges of the straight portion, and a slot in said end portion, the center line of the slot also being biased to the edges of the straight portion.

4. A check strap for loom picker sticks comprising a unitary singl length of leatherlike material having a central straight portion with substantially parallel edges, a portion at each end of the strap having edges parallel with each other and biased with respect to the edges of the central straight portion, and a slot in each of said end portions, the center lines of each slot also being biased to the edges of the straight central portion so that the slots register with each other when the strap is looped and the ends placed in side-by-side relation.

5. A check strap for loom picker sticks com-- prising a unitary single length of leatherlike material having a central straight portion with substantially parallel edges, a portion at each end of the strap having edges parallel with each other and biased with respect tothe edges of the central straight portion, and a slot in each of said end portions, the center lines of each slot also being biased to the edges of the straight central portion and parallel to the dges of the end portions.

PHILIP G. RHOADS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Clark Mar. 25, 1941 Rogers Nov. 29, 1949 Number 

